VickySilver

I posted this in the general British coin forum but noted with interest that 2 days ago Noonans sold at auction what is evidently an extremely rare decimal coin. It may be the rarest of all currency from the decimal era! This would be the 2009 10 pence, uncirculated currency piece with the lion reverse of 2007 and earlier. Out of curiosity I looked it up and could only find record of a different piece sold at London Coin auctions about 8 years ago and then vague mention of one other specimen from a 2008 (!) currency specimen set, I think it said for babies born that year or similar. Regardless, I didn’t even know this coin existed - maybe because I have focused on the later milled pre-decimal coins of 1837-1970. Do readers know more?

Thanks, and will def. give a try at the auction houses if I can still afford anything. I will post the RM Museum findings on this thread when they come back.

I think that a good idea, but would the RM Museum accept that payment form? I have a few others that are interesting and would like an opinion from the Museum but not worth such a high price - admittedly less per coin if sending out more coins with the traditional form.

At long last the RM acknowledged receipt of this coin at the museum. Dave there has been rather a champion in this. Not to bore, but quite the saga and no wonder not many see a coin through the process of submitting coins to. the RM: I sent off the coin (all figures in USD) which cost $25 to send wire which was only for $25. Postal fees for minor value but tracked and signed for another $42; coin got stuck in customs for nearly two weeks. Customs wanted another $25 so sent another bank wire to RM for that and the requisite $25 bank fee. Total to send the coin in? $142 USD! The next element will be time - Dave said probably 6-8 weeks but not sure when the counting began. In the olde dayes of Graham Dyer, coins would at times be held for one or even two YEARS!!!!

Speculation only but I doubt they want the startup costs of too many mintings - I would guess 2 or maybe 3 max. As a second point and admittedly a WAG (wild A-- guess) the RM is not innocent of conjuring up mules or other variants to keep their collector base. As a third point, I think overall the RM is likely reaching a saturation point with all the crazy and near pointless commems in various iterations, sets and metals. IMHO, WAAAAY to many and much of the schlock.

I have wondered the latter point as well. I do not assume them beyond reproach in this regard.

Looks like post-minting heat or fire exposure limited to offense (the side facing heat source probably).

Yes, I will keep all interested posted. They gave me a contact and direct address, charged 20 pounds (that cost 25 to get a bank draft) and then 43 USD to ship...Yikes.....

The coin will be sent shortly to the Royal Mint for authentication and commentary, which I hope they cover in some detail.

Ok, let me just start by saying that I am not able technically (old-fashioned me!) but perhaps someone can assist with possibly screenshooting some of the commentary where on Facebook there is a fellow on "Half crown Appreciation Society" group that somehow thinks he has a GENUINE 1952 Half crown. It is one of those knock-off poor copies not labelled as such with the atrocious bust of G6. The reverse is alright and the toning suspect but I could not believe some of the comments. Although it does make me wonder about the actual currency piece that Colin Cooke had for a bit and is written up still on his site. How in the world did it get out into circulation and even more strange how did it manage to be out in channels long enough to pick up that much wear and not be discovered; I also note that it does not appear to be a circulated proof or to be of any special manufacture.

Sometimes a bit of reverse psychology can work in one's favor with this grading business. The recent MDC Monaco sale featured TWO 1848/6 sixpences both graded by NGC. One was a "61", the other a "62" both relatively lower mint state grade coins. The latter appeared better, if one was a grader likely either a 63 or 64 and went for relatively cheap - about 1/3 the price of a similar coin sold raw about 3-4 years ago....So worked out nicely. Now only if I can get the 1848 6d WITHOUT overdate!

Interesting. I do find it amazing that somehow the Royal Mint let this currency piece out but with regards to the proof specimen how in the world did it let a designated VIP get out without saving an example for themselves, the Royals or the British Museum? So that was inexcusably careless on their part; I wonder if it was to come up for auction if they would be a "player" in trying to retrieve it? I really don't know about the two 1950s pennies, the 1952 proof and the 1954 - did they end up with them? I seem to recall that in the case of the 1954 that there are specimens retained....Must check Richard's site...

Mine is a keeper and not slabbed. But fess up, the funny thing is that one's ego wonders what the TPG grade would be on occasion....

Agreed. Crazy to PAY for such pieces, but the seller unloading it for 10k did well!

I am having trouble downloading the rest.

Reverse 1952 2/6

Definitely true and will be interesting to see (if we live that long) what happens with some of today's "scarcities" like Strike on the Day, etc. Back to the OP: the 1956 2/6 discussed is absolutely top notch and graded Proof 68 Deep Cameo at PCGS and is available for viewing on their site. Mark R. confirmed that the 1952 2/6 is the real deal from the famed Baldwin's Basement and is known in proof ONLY from this specimen, evidently not in the RM or Royal or BM or anywhere else.

I note that on the same Facebook group there are great pictures of some coins including the aforementioned 1952 2/6 as well as a very nice 1956....

The original October of 1997 Baldwin 125th Anniversary Sale had the proof halfcrown and 1952 proof penny as well. I knew some of the principles at the time and may have a picture somewhere and think I have the catalogue which I saved as well. Will have a looksee tomorrow.

Yes, good point as they do miss these & the latest example which I will try to picture if I get hold of it is a proof 1853 Penny that came right from the set with the brown toning on the exposed side from the set and relatively "red" on the down side (obverse)...They really screw up mattes as well which hold their values up and rising if graded highly (off year). Beware of these and opportunity is likely there: one example are the proof 1839 and 1853 halfcrowns as some of the "Proof 63 Cam(eo)" coins may actually be much higher grades....

I have since found out that the 1952 2/6 proof is also unique, this from impeccable source.

I think, as has been hinted at in this post, that many place just too much on the slab grade. HOWEVER, when it comes time to sell (if and when that time comes) that the number is absolutely huge. That is really a shame but no matter how much we ramp and rave, this is just the new reality when it comes to pounds or dollars fetched. The other part of it is the "subjectivity" of grading which in itself has so many different facets ranging from accuracy or lack thereof to the questions behind influence of submitters to the grading process itself; how dare we question this. But as I see it, three positives in slabbing are: 1 - protecting the coin 2 - helping in resale value for marquee coins 3 - providing some rationalization in grading Overall back to the OP point (yet again): there are definitely price rises in coins like the Una and the Lion, Gothic Crown, etc. If you look at the Heritage ANA sale coming up next month, there are two Unas and more Gothic than I can count with huge estimates. On the other hand, true rarities like the sixpences of 1854 or the 1893 Jub head or the 1850 shilling or the 1854 & 1863 florins or the currency 1839 2/6 are not to be seen. These coins relatively languish and IMHO do not seem to have huge rise in value. And let's not go there with other coins that were once thought a little special like the 1932 florin, etc.

LOL, yes pretty crazy there..... Although I like proofs and patterns these did not hold appeal to me. I like the 1961 and 1963 decimal patterns that actually have designs.....

I also wrote Wayne at E-sylum -BTW, check their website. Let's see if he publishes anything about that.

How again did they conclude this was a 25P and not a 20P pattern?